[Jello]

There's a TOPS meeting in my area tonight at 6:30. I've been thinking of joining for a while and was thinking that tonight's the night.

However, I've just been reading and I see I have to follow my doctor's plan??? Does this mean I have to make an appt. with him and/or have "permission" from him before I can join?

I've done other weight loss programs, most notably weight watchers, and I understand the exchange idea and the general idea of how to lose weight. (The trick is to actually DO IT!! ) I don't really need to go to the doctor first, do I?

Any quick help would be appreciated.

Jo

P.S. Yes, I am one of those "obsessing about new things" types, did ya notice?

[FLgal]

Hi Jello,

No. You do not have to go to the doctor first. You can go to one TOPS meeting free and see if you like it, after that you have to join. You can use any diet you like, but you will need to get your goal weight slip from your Dr. before you reach your goal. I waited several months after I joined TOPS before I got a goal slip from the doctor. It will be explained to you when you go to the meeting. TOPS is a great organization and I think you will enjoy it.

Nita

[LaDean]

join for sure. you will like. its so great and alot of great fun people in it. good luck to you. LaDean

[Eleni]

You should go to a meeting and see how you like it. It is a very good support group. As Nita said you do not have to go to your doc to join. The only reason for doc visit is to get a goal slip from him/her. You can get one when you go for your yearly. All the goal slip is a statement from him saying what your weight should be. You do any eating plan that works for you. And this site is an extra bonus where you get to know TOPPERS from all over. Good luck to you

[Jello]

Just bringing up this thread again to say hello, thank you and let you all know what I've decided ... if you care.

Anyway, I decided to join TOPS as an on-line member ... for starters. The weekly meeting I would have to go to is not very convenient. That is, the timing is really bad and the location is tough to get in and out of, especially since I don't drive in inclement weather (i.e. winter) and don't like to drive at night (my vision ain't what it should be). And all the other excuses. I mean, I knew that I would soon start to dread having to go and that's really really the wrong attitude, right?

Well, I joined online. It's an annual membership and, should I decide to become a "live in-person" member, I can start going to weekly classes. Meanwhile, I got the TOPS software all loaded into my computer and keep track of calories and exchanges and my weight daily. I also got the book and have been learning a lot.

How am I doing? Well, I actually just started the program on Tuesday so it's still a little early to really tell. But the scale seems to be tipping in the right direction. And I really like the program.

Again, thanks for all the info. I'm hoping you'll let me come into the TOPS area of this forum again to say hi, ask more questions I'm sure I'll have and "report in".

[FLgal]

Hi Jello....Welcome to TOPS and our TOPS board. Why not join our monthly weigh-in thread. It helps to let each other know how we are doing. It's also like being accountable. I hate to have to post in the red, so I keep trying for a loss.

Have a good day.

Nita

[Eleni]

Jello Just wanted to let you know you do not need to bring this thread up each time. I know some of the other boards do it a little different.We start a new one everyday so just join the daily one each time.

[glynne]

A question for Jello or anyone else who could tell me about TOPS on line.

I joined TOPS back in February. Becaues of my work schedule, I am only able to go every other week. I work the night shift at my job, and quite often my sleep is goofed up, and I end up over sleeping and missing the meetings on the few nights I can go. So, I was thinking maybe the On line TOPS would work better for me. I am just wondering what kind of support you get with an on line membership? Do you feel like the TOPS on line is worthwhile?

Thank you for your help.

Gayle

[Eleni]

Gayle I don't know how much help the on line is. Why don't you send a PM to Jello as she just joined. I do know about schedule problems as I worked swing shifts for years and could not go to all the meetings. There is no way that the on line can be as good as the one on one of a meeting and the weigh in. Have you checked to see if there is another chapter with better hours for you. But if you can't make the meetings they are not much help to you. The online would seem to be better than nothing. I don't know if you can belong to both tho at same time. I don't think so.
Be sure to join us on our daily thread. We don't usually carry different threads all the time. We start a new one each day and you can post any thing there.More people are likely to see any questions you have. Good luck to you